This animated map brilliantly demonstrates in just 3 minutes how much Europe has changed over the last 1,000 years

This simple but incredible clip brilliantly illustrates the changes Europe has experienced in the last millennium.

The video, created by LiveLeak, shows a map of Europe's borders changing in colour and layout in accordance with the continent's geopolitical developments from the year 1000 all the way to 2003.

The gif below shows a section that few today give much thought to: The fact that Germany didn't really exist until the late 1800s, and then suddenly takes over much of Northern Europe within a few decades:

The video manages to capture the changes the continent has experienced throughout the immense timeline — from the height of the Byzantine Empire to the fall of the Soviet Union.